EghtesadOnline: Close to 79.2 million tons of commodities were loaded and unloaded in Hormozgan Province’s Shahid Rajaee Port during the first 11 months of the current Iranian year (March 21, 2017-Feb. 19), showing an 8% increase compared with the similar period of last year, the director general of Hormozgan Ports and maritime Organization said.

“Nearly 54.3 million tons of the total sum were non-oil and 24.9 million were oil products, the loading and unloading of which registered an 11% and 3% growth respectively year-on-year,” Allah-Morad Afifipour was also quoted as saying by the news portal of the Ministry of Roads and Urban Development.

The official added that 35.23 million tons of non-oil products were exported from Shahid Rajaee Port over the period, indicating an 8% increase YOY.

Imports into the port amounted to 8.92 million tons, according to Financial Tribune.

More than 4.9 million tons of non-oil products were transited through Shahid Rajaee, which experienced a 22% rise YOY.

Transshipment of non-oil products reached more than 3 million tons during the period.

Afifipour added that 3,629 vessels entered Shahid Rajaee during the 11 months to Feb. 19, 3,051 of which weighed over 1,000 tons.

Shahid Rajaee Port, Iran’s biggest container port at the mouth of the Strait of Hormuz, is reclaiming its past glory as a major international port following the implementation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action in January 2016.

Over half of Iran's commercial trading is carried out at Shahid Rajaee. The port complex also accounts for over 85% of all container throughput in the country.

With 18 gantry cranes and 40 berths, Shahid Rajaee is the most advanced container port of Iran where 12,000 TEU-plus Panamax cargo ships can enter.

"Plans are to add 12 more gantry cranes and 15 transtainers to the second terminal of the port," Afifipour said.

Launched in 1985, the port has expanded annually thereafter. Today it is connected to 80 top ports across the world. The significance of this port lies in its large capacity, including its location in the Persian Gulf, container terminal, fuel bunkering, access to 24 kilometers of railroads and round-the-clock truck transportation.

According to Chairman of Ports and Maritime Organization Mohammad Rastad, upon the completion of the terminal within three years, the port’s capacity will increase from the current 6 million TEU to 8 million TEU.

Afifipour said about 1,400 meters of new wharf will be constructed and three oceangoing vessels carrying up to 18,400 containers can dock at the port simultaneously upon the completion of Phase-3.

"The project will add 7,500 direct and indirect jobs to the economy and would be a significant step toward increasing Iran’s share of global trade and improving the port’s standing among top 100 container ports of the world," he added.